Pencil-case



(No Model.)

M. J. W'ORLEY.

PENCIL CASE.

No.- 457,947. Patented Aug. 18, 1891.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARY J. VVORLEY, OF SHELBYVILLE, ILLINOIS.

PENCIL-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 457,947, dated August 18, 1891.

Application filed February 13, 1891. Serial No. 381,309. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARY J. WoRLEY, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Shelbyville, in the county of Shelby and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Pen- ;sil-Case, of which the following is a specifica- This invention relates to school-furniture, and more especially to pencil-cases adapted to be secured to slate-frames or other equivalent devices; and the object of the same is to effeet improvements upon devices of this same general character heretofore made.

To this end the invention consists of the details of construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as illustrated in the sheet of drawings, wherein- Figure l is an elevation of a school-slate with my improved pencil-case attached thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged central longitudinal section of the case, showing the cork removed. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is aperspective view of one end of the tube and lip with frame in section.

Referring to the said drawings, the letter S designates an ordinary slate having a Wooden frame F, to which my improved pencil-case is shown in the present instance as attached, although it will be understood that the case may be attached to any other article of school-furniture or to a book bya suitable variation in the construction of parts. The said case comprises a tube T, preferably of metal, one end of which is closed, and is provided on the inside with a cushion O, of cotton or other soft material, in which the point of the pencil is embedded when it is in place, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The other end of the tube is open, and a stopper S, of cork or some other soft material, is provided for closing this open end, a cord or thread T connecting this cork with the body of the tube to prevent its accidental loss. Secured to each end of the tube is a lip L, preferably slightly curved in cross-section, so as to conform with the shape of the tube, and this lip extends slightly beyond the end of the tube and is provided with a small perforation or eye I, through which may be passed a pin,

nail, or screw, whereby the device will be permanently held upon the edge of the frame F. The lip L, near the open end of the tube, also serves as a guide to assist in the insertion of the pencil, as will be readily understood.

The above-described lips are more especially for use when my pencil-case is to be permanently secured to some wooden article, as the slate-frame shown; but very often it becomes desirable to attach the tube temporarily, and I therefore preferably provide the following devices for this purpose: MM are metallic strips of spring metal, which are curved at their centers, where they bend over the top of the tube, and are soldered or otherwise secured thereto, as best seen in Fig. 3.

Below the points of soldering the sides of the strips diverge slightly, and at a point about opposite the bottom of the tube they bend inwardly, as at B. The lower ends of these strips may also be provided with eyes I the same as the lips and for the same purpose. In operation, when it is desired to temporarily attach the device to some school article, as a slate-frame, the depending arms of the strips are slightly separated and passed over the frame, and their resilience will cause them to clamp the frame and hold the device thereon.

This improved pencil-case can be made and sold as an article of manufacture, in which case it may have the strips M, the lips L, or both, or it may be made and secured permanently to a slate-frame when the same is sold, either securing means or both being then used, as desired. The thickness of the entire device, excepting the strips, is slightly less than that of an ordinary slate-frame, so that when the latter is laid upon a desk the pencil-case will not scratch the varnish thereon and will make no noise by contact therewith; or if the devicebe permanently secured to the slate by the strips M, and the whole sold in this condition, the frame is preferably mortised, so as to receive the arms of the strips, whereby the latter Will not project beyond the sides of the frame and strike the desk.

In operation the cork is removed from the open end of the tube and the pencil inserted in the tube point first, after which the cork is replaced,.as will be understood. When it is desired to again use the pencil, the cork is withdrawn and the slate tipped, so as to incline the tube and cause the pencil to slide out of the same into the operators hand.

This device avoids the dropping and breakage of slate-pencils or the loss thereof or of the cases in which they are usually kept, and

it also avoids the loss of time and noise in a prising a tube having one end closed, a cushion inside and against said closed end, a stopper removably inserted in the other end, and metallic strips curved at their centers over said tube and there secured thereto, thence diverging slightly, and then .bentminwardly, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with a slate having a frame, of a tube having one end closed, a stopper removably inserted in the other end, lips secured to the under side of the tube, projecting beyond its ends and provided with eyes, spring-metal strips curved over the tube at their centers and there secured thereto, their depending arms being also provided with eyes, and screws passing through said eyes into the frame, as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 

